American Jewish Committee Asks Restoration of U.S. Aid to Israel

The two-day session of the executive committee of the American Jewish Committee concluded here today with a resolution expressing “concern” over the action of the State Department against Israel and urging the U.S. Government “to reconsider its action.” The resolution condemns the recent acts of violence on both sides of the Israel-Jordan frontier.

“We express our concern that our government has withheld an approved grant-in-aid to Israel on the ground, as stated by the Secretary of State, that Israel has “resisted” an order of the United Nations truce supervisory organization, the resolution says. “The entire issue is pending before the United Nations so that the matter is still to be determined. Apart from the propriety of Israel non-compliance, the effect of our government’s action is to prejudge the issue without hearing.

“The situation thus created transcends the issue of the propriety of the Israeli conduct. The United States foreign aid program has been a generous act of help to countries free and independent, but less fortunate than ourselves, and has not been designed to compel submission to our will. America does not seek purchased satellites, but a voluntary partnership held together by common beliefs and aspirations in the common struggle against tyranny. The measures taken against Israel run counter to this policy and we urge our government to reconsider its action.

“We are gratified that the United Nations has at last undertaken to deal with the entire Middle East situation. We urge that through its instrumentality an enduring peace be fashioned which alone can bring to this region political stability and vital economic development,” the resolution concludes.

Jacob Blaustein, president of the American Jewish Committee, said that he does not condone the Israeli retaliatory action in Kibya, but he pointed out that between June 1952 and June 1953 the UN Mixed Armistice Commission, according to information given the AJC, investigated 280 border disturbances, and in 158 found the responsibility that of Jordan, 27 due to the Israelis and the remainder undetermined.